Walcha Roos move to Group 19

SHIFTING COMPETITIONS: The Walcha Roos will move to Group 19 this season to take on the second division tournament.

It’s official. The Walcha Roos are shifting north.

The Roos applied to move from Group 4 to the Group 19 second division competition and received the go ahead after clubs in the northern Group voted to accept them on Tuesday.

Previously, clubs would have to apply to their Group to leave but a recent rule change by Country Rugby League ensured the Roos could make the shift as they chose. They will join Uralla, Guyra, Bingara, Ashford, Warialda and Tenterfield in second division which consists of a men’s tackle and ladies league tag competition.

Roos president Michael Aspinall said the decision to move was based around player numbers and the fact the new Group 19 competition includes small towns in a similar situation to them.

“We just didn't have enough there and we wanted to play a bit of park footy instead of full-bore down there in Group 4 and get smashed on the scoreline,” he said.

“I am worried myself in the player number side of it.

“Group 4 we could sign as many players as we wanted for the boys and the girls but in Group 19 second division we can only have 25 for the boys and 20 for the girls which is a bit hard really because some of the players we were talking to could only give us five or six games a year.”

Aspinall said they also require a league tag coach and urged anyone interested in coaching or playing to contact him on 0429 771 345.